Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-11-12
He smiled and said: sDo not waste your time

He smiled and said: 'Do not waste your time
bg chasing these men. Go home and do your
work, and they can do you no harm" | took
his counsel and all was we'll. Long ago
made up my mind that il one will put his
trust in God and be faithful tO duty, lie need
not fear any evil. Have God on your side,
young man, and all the combined forces of
earth and hell can do you no damage.
And this leads me to saythat the mightiest
OF all defense Tor young man is the
possession OF thorough religious princi-
pie. Nothing can take the place of
II He may have manners that would put to
shame the gracefulness and courtesy of a
Lord Chesterfield. Foreign languages may
drop from his tongue. He may be able to dis
cuss literature, and laws, and foreign customs.
lie may wicld pen of unequalled polish and
power His quicilness and tact may qualify
him for the highest salary of the counting
houses. He mlf he as sharD as Herod and as
strong as Samson, with fine locks as those
which hung AbSalOm. still he is not safe from
contaminatiO'.. The more elegant his manner,
and the Inorc fascinating his dress, the more
peril. Satan does not care much for the allie
glance OF a coward and lliterate being. He
can bring him into efficient service. But he
loves to storm that castle of character which
has In IL the most spoils and treasures. 1t
was not some crazy craft creeping along the
coast with valueless cargo that the pirate
attacked, but the ship full-winged, and flag
million OF specie. The more your natural and
acquired accomplishments, the more need of
the religion OF Jesus That does not cut in
upon or hack up any smoothness of disposi-
tion or behavior. 1t gives symmetry. 1t ar
rests that in the soul which ought to be arrest
ed, and propells that which ought to be pro-
PEELED. 1t fills up the gulleys. 1t eleyates and
transforms. To beauty 1t gives more beauty,
to tact more tact, to enthusiasm of nature
more enthusiasm. When the Holy Spirit i'm
presses the image Of God on the heart he does
not spoil the canvas. II In all the multtudes
OF young men upon whom religion has acted
you could find one nature that has been the
least damaged, l would yield this p-oposit on.
You may now have enough strength of charac-
ter to repel the various temptations to gross
wickedness which assail YOU, but do not
know In what strait you may be thrust at some
future time. Nothing short of the grace of
the cross may then be able To deliver you from
the lions. You are not meeker than Moses,
nor holIier than David, nor more patient than
Job, and YOU ought not to consider yourself
invulnerable. You may have some weak point
of character that you have never discovered,
and in some hour when you are assaulted the
Philistlnes will be upon thee, Samson. Trust
not in your good habits, or your early train
ing or your pride Of character; nothing short
of the arm of almighty God will be sufficient
to uphold you. You look forward to the
world sometimes with a chilling despondency.
Cheer upl | will tell you how you all make
fortune. Seek first the kingdom of God and
His righteousness and all other things will be
added unto you" know you do not want to
be mean In this matter. Give God the fresh
ness of your life. You will not have the heart
to drink down the brimming cup of life and
then pour the dregs on Gods altar. To
Saviour so infinitely generous you have not
the heart to act like that That is not brave,
that is not honorable, that is not manly. Your
greatest want I'm all the world Is new heart.
In Gods name / tell you that. And the
Blessed Spirit presses through the solemities
and privileges Of this holy hour. Put the cup
Of life eternal to your thirsty lips. Thrust it
not back. Mercy offers it,. bleeding mercy,
long-suffering mercy. Reject all other friend
ships, be ungrateful for all other kindness,
prove recreant to all other bargains, but de-
splse Gods love for your immortal soui-don't
you do that.
l would like to see some of you this hour
press out of the ranks of the world and lay
your conquered spirit at the feet of Jesus.
This. hour Is no wandering vagabond
staggering over the earth, 1t is
a winged messenger of the skies whispering
mercy to thy soul. Life is: smooth now but
after while 1t may be rough, wild aud pre-
cIpitate There comes a crisis in the history
Of every man. We seldom understand that
turning point until It is far past The road is
forked and / read on two signboards: This is
the way to happiness" 'This is the way to
rum" HOW apt We are 10 pass tne FORKS OF
the road without thinking whether it comes
out at the door Of bliss or the gates Of dark
ness.
Many years ago stood on the anniversary
platform with minister OF Christ who made
this remarkable statement:
Thirty years ago two young men started
out in the evening to attend Park Theatre,
New York, where play was to be acted In
which the cause Of religion was to be placed
in ridiculous and hvpocritical light They
came TO the steps. The consciences OF both
smotc them. One started to go home but re-
turned again to the door and yet had not
courage to enter and finally departed. But the
other Young man entered the pit Of the thea
tire. 1t was the turning point In the history OF
those two young men. The man who entered
was caught In the whirl OF temptation. He
sank deeper and deeper in infamy. He was
lost. That other young man was saved, and
he now stands before you to bless God that for
twenty years ago he was permitted to preach
the Gospel"
"Rejoice, o young man, in thy youth, and
let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy
youth; but know thou that for all these things
God will bring thee into judgment"